The embattled, and bankrupt, GM parts supplier Delphi has been tapped by Ferrari to supply the new 599 GTB Fiorano with its MagneRide suspension that’s also used on the Chevrolet Corvette, Cadillac STS and other premium GM products. The MagneRide suspension uses shock absorbers filled with a fluid capable of changing damping characteristics on the fly.
Delphi has been supplying Ferrari with climate control systems since 1992 and will also supply the Fiorano’s electrical system. If this stuff is good enough for Ferrari…
[Thanks Noah for the tip]
[Source: Inside Line]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Adam Levy @ Apr 29th 2006 6:59PM
Um...WTF.
Not that I'm knocking the Corvette, but that a Ferrari is suppose to be a Ferrari.
Jason @ Apr 29th 2006 7:14PM
What makes a Ferrari a Ferrari or a Porsche a Porsche isn't who supplies the nuts and bolts, it's what they do with the nuts and bolts. It's the design, the sense of purpose, the goal of what they want to achieve before they say it's good enough.
Ferrari could provide Pontiac with a bunch of parts and they could still build a POS car out of them.
Tom Design @ Apr 29th 2006 7:56PM
Now they can claim a ride as responsive as a Buick Lucerne.
UH2L @ Apr 29th 2006 8:29PM
Just further proof that GM is more innovative than most people like to admit.
scott 3 @ Apr 29th 2006 8:57PM
This fits right in with the GM trannys BMW uses today and Jag used in the past and the A/C Rolls used for years before being runined by BMW.
The Delpi system is one of the best and most cost effective units in the world.
Many may have a false unfounded bias against GM but the companies they so cherish know where to go to get what they need when they need it.
Michael Karesh @ Apr 29th 2006 9:15PM
I don't think BMW uses GM transmissions anymore. I think they're all ZF now.
The title of this post is misleading. Shock absorbers are hardly a suspension. Delphi's shocks are perhaps the best of their kind, though. They don't do so much in the Corvette, where the standard suspension is already quite good and the ride quality of the Z51 is much more acceptable than it once was, but they work very well in the SRX, Lucerne, etc. I wouldn't buy an SRX without them.
V?or Rubiera @ Apr 29th 2006 9:36PM
I´m very dissapointed about the the inside line say´s cars like Ferrari are extreamly special.
Zippy Maboonogian @ Apr 29th 2006 9:38PM
"Ferrari could provide Pontiac with a bunch of parts and they could still build a POS car out of them".
I don't think there's been a Pontiac "Police Officer Special" since the old rear wheel drive Bonnevilles? I tangled with a few of them and as pursuit vehicles, they were actually quite good.
Chris @ Apr 29th 2006 9:56PM
POS = Piece of S***
G @ Apr 29th 2006 10:40PM
This doesn't mean GM is great, it just symbolizes the decline of the Europeans, terrible quality from MB and BMW, sell-out SUVs from Porsche, closing of British plants for the Chinese, Jaguar bought by Ford, etc. and now cost-saving parts for Ferrari. Its just a sign of the times for European autombile manufacturing.
Ryan @ Apr 29th 2006 10:46PM
"Just further proof that GM is more innovative than most people like to admit."
Or delphi, both are quite good at running on fumes.
marko @ Apr 29th 2006 11:20PM
This is the way car companies conduct business. And if you do not adjust, you simply fall behind, lamented in some automotive book. European companies have to adjust to this framework of business or become irrelevant.
Who here has a better solution? I wanna hear solutions, not whining and moaning of "the decline of the european car manufacturer because they use delphi".
Who here has driven a magnaride equipped ride? Sounds like a fascinating piece of technology (I know Audi uses the technique- don't know their supplier).
If you wanna knock something- knock the styling of that ferrari- I mean, talk about uninspiring. Quite lacking in originality and fressness wouldn't anyone care to agree
Stewart Elliot @ Apr 29th 2006 11:39PM
During the 1980's Lamborghini Countach used the indicator stalk from a morris ital, so this is something that has been going on for years, not neccessarily a sign of the times.
FIAT parts... @ Apr 30th 2006 12:47AM
"Ferrari could provide Pontiac with a bunch of parts and they could still build a POS car out of them"
Ever owned a Ferrari? Ever had a good look at one? Especially a 348 or earlier?
Outside of the running gear, Pontiac parts would be an improvement over most of the parts on a Ferrari. You don't hear Ferrari owners commenting on the unreliability and high running costs of American vehicles.
Ferrari does some things right. But let's not get all weird here. Many of the parts on Ferraris are pretty ordinary. Many of them are just from the FIAT parts bin.
Phil @ Apr 30th 2006 12:49AM
At least every car built in the U.S. probably has at least one part built by Delphi on it, even the cars built by foreign companies in the U.S.
mati @ Apr 30th 2006 1:33AM
Danm! Corvette suspension that's leafsprings ):
ip boy @ Apr 30th 2006 2:39AM
LEARN ABOUT INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS YOU DOLTS
David @ Apr 30th 2006 4:53AM
"This doesn't mean GM is great, it just symbolizes the decline of the Europeans, terrible quality from MB and BMW, sell-out SUVs from Porsche, closing of British plants for the Chinese, Jaguar bought by Ford, etc. and now cost-saving parts for Ferrari. Its just a sign of the times for European autombile manufacturing."
Care to explain this to me? Porsche builds an SUV that get's rave reviews, but because the expanded their product line they are sellouts? Plants are closed in Britain to keep companies alive which in the end preserves hundreds of thousands of jobs. Ferrari chooses to use the suspension of the new Corvette (a supercar.) Ford bought Jaguar, a company flirting with collapse and horrible quality, then once the buyout takes place the company is rejuvinated...so as I said, please explain your argument to me?
james @ Apr 30th 2006 5:27AM
"12. Danm! Corvette suspension that's leafsprings ):"
Yes it's true, and I was disappointed at first until I read this article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corvette_leaf_springs
There are many advantages to using the leaf springs instead of coils, just give it a read and you'll see.
A Bum In A Bus @ Apr 30th 2006 7:51AM
GM just happens to make the best suspension system in the world, and yes that includes those from Japan. Companies from around the world have used GM parts for generations and will continue to do so because GM is strong, and on the way back to prosperity.... I suspect some of the complainers have no idea what a suspension is, they probably think its something to hold up their pants......That's suspenders kids, suspenders, not suspensions.